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August 25, 1938.
My dear King George:-
When I was in Canada, a few days ago, Prime Minister Mackenzie
King told me, in confidence, that there is a possibility that
you and Her Majesty will visit the Dominion of Canada in the
Summer of 1939.
If this visit should become a reality, I hope very much that
you will extend your visit to include the United States. I need
not assure you that it would give my wife and me the greatest
pleasure to see you, and, frankly, I think it would be an excellent
thing for Anglo-American relations if you could visit the United
States.
As you know, an International Exposition is to be held in New
York City (and another one in San Francisco) in 1939. Doubtless
you would not be able to visit both of them but if you could
come from Montreal or Ottawa to New York, it would be only an
overnight journey.
If you should be here in June or July you might care to avoid
the heat of Washington, and, in such a case, it would give us
the greatest pleasure to have you and Her Majesty come to visit
us at our country home at Hyde Park which is on the Hudson River,
about eighty miles north of New York and, therefore, on the direct
route between New York City and Canada. Also, it occurs to me
that a Canadian trip would be crowded with formalities and that
you both might like three or four days of very simple country
life at Hyde Park -- with no formal entertainments and an opportunity
to get a bit of rest and relaxation.
In case you would care to come to Washington, however, and
to see the Capital, you would, of course, stay with us at the
White House. This would of necessity be somewhat more formal
and, in the event that the Congress is still in session, there
would probably be great pressure for you to be received by the
Congress.
You and I are fully aware of the demands of the Protocol people,
but, having had much experience with them, I am inclined to think
that you and Her Majesty should do very much %what you personally
want to do -- and I will see to it over here that your decision
becomes the right decision.